We Are Family

On our way north, we stopped by Iowa City to visit Rufus and Elsa. They looked great and it was so great to get to mother them a bit. I captured part of our visit on video with my iPhone. We love the vintage leather sofa and we love each other.

Global Warming?

Can you believe that we migrated south for the winter just to be greeted with record cold temperatures and snow? We got a record amount of snow the other day - 12 inches! People down here were kind of freaked out about driving - you wouldn't believe the traffic jams it caused. But because they hardly ever get this much snow down here I think they really enjoyed it. I have never seen so many snowmen. There was a snowman in the median in the middle of a busy street with one of those orange traffic cones for a hat. Angus peed on that one. A snowperson also appeared in the chase lounge next to our pool.

The temperature soon rose above freezing and this created a big slushy, yucky mess. This was cool with me because dad took us to the indoor dog park. You see, the first indoor dog park ever is a quick drive from our house. It is huge with a big dog and a small dog area. It has astroturf and a patented filtration system that keeps everything clean and fresh. All us dogs are required to show proof of our immunizations and there are attendants on duty that monitor our play. There's even a play area with hoops to jump through, bridges to cross, and houses to run through. I'm pretty good at this obstical course. Angus and Roxie aren't so interested. I would say that Angus is the most social of the three of us. He loves to play with the other dogs. Me? I love to play frisbee with dad. I also like to visit the gift shop and cafe. They even have wifi so I can work on my blog if I want.

Sweet Baboo and Doodles

Above: Sweet Baboo (left) and Doodles

Last year we also went down south for the winter months. Dad says that we are snowbirds. Very young snowbirds!

So, anyway, one day last year when we walking around our southern neighborhood a woman in a parked car rolled down her window and hollered out "Who are these beautiful dogs?" So dad stopped and chatted for awhile and it turned out that she also had a Tibetan Terrier named Sweet Baboo. Dad thought she said Sweet Bamboo, but I heard it correctly and it was Sweet Baboo. It so happens that she also has a store just filled with every type of accoutrement you could ever imagine for dogs. So she told us that we must stop by and meet Sweet Baboo for he goes to the store everyday. She also told us about her other TT, Doodle Dandy, who is no longer with us. Doodle Dandy was born on the fourth of July and he and his litter mates all received patriotic names. I don't know what his litter mates names were but I am imagining Uncle Sam, Stars and Stripes, Betsy Ross....Firecracker? Anyway, I just love the name Doodle Dandy. He was more commonly called Doodles.
We never made it to the shop last year, but happened on it, by accident, this year. You see dad was looking for some flowering branches for the house and it turns out that the dog store is part dog store and part flower shop. Isn't that a cool and unusual combination. Well, we recognized the lady from the car immediately and she recognized us too. But there was no Sweet Baboo. He went to the big dog park in the sky in October. He was fourteen. That made me a bit sad and so sorry that dad didn't get around to visiting last year. Dad asked a lot of questions about Baboo although he continued to call him Sweet Bamboo even after the nice woman from the car spelled it out for him, B-A-B-O-O ( rhymes with yahoo). She showed us some beautiful paintings her brother (the TTs original owner) painted of Babboo and Doodles including one of Babboo on top of the table in the shop. This was his favorite place to be.

Snoucher?

I received the most wonderful note from my boy Sherpa. He is so handsome and has quite a way with words. I love you Sherpa.

Mom,
I can't believe I celebrated my 4 month birthday last week. A lot has happen since I left home........... Last week-end I went to the groomer to have my nails trimmed and a wash & dry (dad says he doesn't do nails)......When we arrived at the groomers, the groomer told dad she would trim around my eyes and my paws....I could see panic in dad's face because I knew he didn't want my eyes or paws trimmed.....It was all so new and he really wants me to look like older brother Angus....The only trimming he wanted was my bottom clipped for sanitary purposes, but did not want me to have a baboon butt either....
Dad didn't want to offend the groomer or come across as a know-it- all (you know some hair cutters can be temperamental or
even bitchy) so he asked the groomer to do him a favor...In his kindest voice....he asked "please work with me and Sherpa as this is a new experience for both of us, I would like to start out with a full coat and if we decide it's too difficult to manage we can make adjustments along the way". ...I could hear dad say under his breath if I wanted my dog to look like a Snoucher I would have gotten a Snoucher :) ...... He also asked the groomer to trim my bottom. The groomer responded with a
big smile and said "I absolutely understand and I'll also be sure his butt doesn't look like a baboon from behind". I think dad and my new groomer (Angelia) are best friends, when he came to pick me up, everyone was all smiles and I looked like a
million bucks..... if I do say so myself......:-) Angelia also told us she was excited we were going to try to go with a full coat and she looked forward to working with us......Dad knows he made some assumptions about the groomer... :) but he was going to be leaving precious cargo and didn't want to rock the boat.......

Oh, I almost forgot....before I went to the groomer I went to doggie playtime at "the Good Dog Spot" not far from my house......From 9:00-10:00 am on Saturday mornings lots of pups and smaller dogs get to hang out and play in this great big room and also run outside to an area that is fenced in......I met lots of new friends, there were about 15 of us jumping, running, barking, sniffing butts and having a ball......Dad calls it socializing, I call
it FUN!!!

The next day my dads and I went to my second obedience training class...I thought it was going to be a lot of work, but once I got there I realized they were teaching them, not me :)....I'm a smart little guy, all you have to do is reward me positively and I'll do anything....They both had a clicker and when I was good I got a treat...SIT, DOWN, STAY,
etc. .....This was fun I can't wait for my next class.......

I'm looking forward to spring and many more new adventures.

Miss you.

Big hugs-Sherpa

Lexie

Do you remember when, out of the clear blue sky, I was asked to help find a home for a TT named Lexie? I wrote about it in my post Playing With Matches A Girl Can Get Burned. Well, I received an update and some pics from Carole, Lexie's new mom. I never ever heard another peep from Lexie's first mom, Joy. Nope. No thank you or nothin'. Joy? I'm not sorry I helped out though cause Lexie and her new mom and dad are really happing together. Their cat, Tobey, looks quite satisfied with the arrangement as well.

Hi Suddie.
Lexie is doing great, we feel so fortunate to have found her. Again, thank you!!
She's a wonderful dog, friendly, affectionate, smart. Sometimes I think she can read my mind. That's inside. Outside is a different story! She has a mind of her own, but we're working on that!
My husband is ready to get another TT, that's how good she is.
Here are some pictures.
Hope all is well with you.
Carole

Too Cold For Comfort

I received some pics and a funny note from Sage and Lucas, my PBGV friends, who now live in COLD, COLD Sweden:

Suddie...We thought u might like some pics of us with our balls in the snow...I mean..snow balls in our coats.....Sage and Lucas

Pandora's Truck

Looks like my Pandora is now driving a classic pickup. And how about that scarf? That sure is something. Maybe she saw that recent movie about Amelia Earhart. She looks more like Amelia than Hillary Swank. I'm a bit worried though because I heard that a woman wearing a long scarf was nearly decapitated when it got caught in an escalator. You be careful Pandy. I have a sneaking feeling that Toby is using that fine ride to pick up the bitches.

Pandy sent me a sweet note:

Hi Mom,
Finally getting around to let you know what’s going on in my life here in California. I am having a grand time chasing my Dad, Toby, around wherever I can, either here in Palm Springs or San Diego. But I like it here in Palm Springs because I have more space and bushes to hide in when I get a little tired. At first I don’t think Dad liked the idea of having competition in attention from our other Dads, but now he has gotten used to having me around. Although, at times he sneaks under a bed to escape from my shenanigans such as pulling his hair. I am learning about grooming and I think I have learned that it is better to relax and let my Dads brush me and I do like the attention I get then. Also, I have learned that walking on a leash is lots of fun, especially if I go alone without Toby. If I go with him I don’t get to chase him and I just have to keep pulling on the leash to try to catch up with him. Yesterday we both had a bath and I kind of like that. I think tomorrow we are going back to San Diego and on the way I might meet my handler for the first time, so we can plan on our first show in April. I hear that the shows are fun, because I will meet lots of other TTs and get a lot of attention from the judges and the people that will be watching me. I miss you and all my brothers and sisters, especially older brother and sister, Angus and Roxie, but I am having a good time here. Lots of love and kisses. Pandy

We all miss you too Pandy. Give your dad's hair a good yank for me.